Mechanical chain linkage system for mechanical ciphering units



Sept. 12, 1950 1..;M. P01-Ts MECHANICAL CHAINLINKAGE SYSTEM FOR MECHANICAL CIPHERING ums INVENTOR LOUIS M.l POTTS, DECEA SED MARTI-.1A W. C. POTTS, ExEcuTRlx afg WM ATTORNEY Sept, 12, i950 2,522,461

L. M. POTTS MECHANICAL CHAIN LINKAGE SYSTEM FOR MECHANICAL CIPHERING UNITS INVENTOR LOUIS M. POTTS, oEcEAsED MARTHA W. C. POTTS, ExEcurRlx BY 'A' 4 4M,

ATTORNEY.

`POTTS MECHANICAL CHAIN LINKAGE SYSTEM FOR Sept. l2, 1950 IMIEICIMNICAI.. CIPIEIERING UNITS Filed Oct. l0, 1946 l 9 Sheets-Sheet 3,

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INVENTOR Sept. l2, 1950 M. Por'rs MECHANICAL CHAIN LINKACE SYSTEM FCR MECHANICAL CIPHERINC UNITS 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001'.. 10, 1946 INVENTOR LOUlS M. POTTS, DECEASED MARTHA W. C. POTTS, ExECu'rRIx BY Z ATTORNEY Sept. l2, 1950 l.. M. POT-rs MECHANICAL CHAIN LINKACE sYs'rEM ECR MECHANICAL CIPHERINC UNITS 9 Sheeis-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 10, 1946 VM R v wm im c EE R D Y S E WST m NTT O E .|O\ T WOP .m IP .C MW. BAd/Q UH OT LR Y A B M 96E,

Sept. l2, 1950 L. M. POT-rs 2,522,451

MECHANICAL CHAIN LINKAGE SYSTEM FCR MECHANICAL CIPHERING UNITS Filed Oct. l0, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 328 FIG." Q Q /SIZ 3u f; i ff fg 229 L i 4,1 \`*227 Y I s 344 344 34s 34e 353 350 Q: 'z

l C, 5 P;:I1 f349 347\ INVENTCR LOUIS M. POTTS, DECEASED MARTHA W.'C. POTTS, ExEcuTRlx ATTORNEY L. M. PoTTs 2,522,461 MECHANICAL CHAIN LINKAGE SYSTEM FCR MECHANICAL CIPHERINC UNITS 9 sheets-sheet 'z sept. 12, 195o Filed Oct. l0, 1946 mvENToR LOUIS M, POTTS, DECEASED MARTHA w. C. POT-rs, EXECUTRIX BY l ATTORNEY Septe E2, 1950 l.. M. PoT'rs 2522361 MECHANICAL CHAIN LINKACE SISTEM FCR MECHANICAL CIPHERINC uNI'rs Filed Oct. 10, 1946 -9 Sheets-Sheet 8 FlG. l5

FIG. I6

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mulmunnm INVENTOR LOUIS M. POTTS, DEcEAsED MARTHA w. C. POTTS,ExEcuTR|x my WM ATTORNEY L. MECHANICAL CHAIN LI Sept. 12, 1950- M. POT-rs 2,522,451

NKAGE SYSTEM Foa MECHANICAL CIPHERING ums 9 sheets-Sheet s Filed Oct. l0, 1946 INVENTCR D wm .R .w n um. m c .A uw w A .MSW T TT T0 OP P.

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Patented Sept. 12, 1950 UNITED f-oFFicfE CHANICALCHIN LNKGESYSTEMTR 'MECHNI'GAL-FCIPHVERING' UNITS LouisfM. Pottsfdeceased, lateeofeEvanstony-Ill, lby Martha .10. Potts, executrix;.Evanstonyilll., assigner tolllleletype Corporation, L(Llia.gfIll, Y l a.corporation'ofjlelaware v y. y Applicationioctolrerll, 1346.; Serials'VNoZ.''1.021429V This .invention relates to :secret .printingmele.-

graph .apparatus .and yparticu1arly.. to mechanical cipering units .for encipheringand rdecilheririg .telegraph messages.

The primary objectof the .inventonisthe ,pro-

.ciphering Vtype Wheel printer .which is vallnreff.

.hanical in operation and requiresno'Hinton-.al1 -power "being .furnishedjfrom '"the'keyboard. l

v1n general, itiis proposed ..to.provi'c1e,iin` combination with a ve unit "code `selectorvvfliich .includes five mechanical selectable elementsgpo- .siti-enable totwo different positions, al variable .mechanical `chain "for each selectable'jelement.

The positions of certain 'component parte' o'f-"the' chains are varied :so that'motiontransmittel through 'the individual chains followsafvarialo'le path Vwhich ultimately Akdetermines "thepositions occupied by the selectable elements.. Toaclileve such a result "each lmechanical chain "includes ka plurality of vpairs of sliiieswhich"cooperate with a'plura'lity .of pairs of cipheringle'versrwhose-po v-sitions kare 'determined 'bythe-setting oficamfp'airs .of vcipherng 'code drums which jmay1loe-f'steppd `to a numberY `of diierent'positicns "Thercode 7drum cams Vare cut so that fthehighpar'tsfof-ione cam are opposite the low `parts :cr'notch'es' of the ccmpanionmember yof thesame pairofcams. -Tliis Iinsures that kthe s ciphering f levers l'of fffany -pair will always beoppositelylpositionediorzoperation to provide a continuous path oflfmovement through the mechanical chains as iwill :bearmore w fully described vlater inI tliefspecication.. i

One vembodiment :ofy the linventioniltilizes .fmechanical ciphering chains in'iconnection'iwithfia :keyboard .operated type Wheelgprinter. .Thezstopping :position of @the .type :wheel is @determined fthe selection of a stop pin, by; means of a five .unit 'code' disc selector Isimilar' to .theiselectordisvclosed in the Morton et al.. Patent..No.1,821,110. .Thegpositioning of ythe :code discs Eis determined 4Joy, the :operation Aof .the `mechanical. :ciphering iii-foraine. (ciglia-221',

chainsfthe Lbeinggo'ne Vchain `for each. lemento'f .the code, .In 'this'instanca v.a'.fi...enci1chered mes- ,sage can .be .typed on ,a .tape .and .then` sent by telegraph, courier, .,or .other .,fineaiisV to a Dredtermined` destination. .An attendant. at this de'sv- .tinaticnby.employinganIidentic-al type Wheel printenmay ,retypellthe received 'message 'Which willthnibedecipherediandprintedfiniplainfEnglish. `;It is,of course, assumed rthat/.both tyri'v'ev vvvvheel,,printersgwouldloeprovidedWith identically cut :key codefdrums.[Whichsvill .occupy the ,saine trelative K.positionsx during "the.Lenciheringiandideilcipheringoperaticn. .An..fa`ddtional :advantage-of y uthe ,.type'wheel printer herein .disclosed-'fis that its operation :is .-allmechanically v.controlled .from

. if-second*embodimentoi .the invention which gis appliedy to a regenerative repeater ,contemf platessthe use offmechanicalchains slightlydi'fl:Eer-,ent in construction ...than Lthe one used with ythe' tyipel-.wheelgprinter. The .regenerative ref- .peater .is offthettype disclosed vin the patent of L;Millonario...accerta .Tnemechanicaichanis ydetermine .fthe positions o ve` code ...bars which sequentially combine :with the armature of -a fseiecitorimagnet to:.determine 'whether a'regener'- .f-ativet'repeater contactlwll move to itsmarkingcr -spacingipcsitionw l n A betterpaunderstanding .of be had `by zreference .to the detailed .description aizhic'h:followsL :when read @fwithszthe accompanying .fdrlasifirigs.a:vlie1, eirii:M .1

Fig. 1 is a fragmentaryliront.;elevaticnalj'view iparticularly; illustratingzfgthe:functional; operations fnfitheitype Wheeliprinter; c

' vPigna-is azfragmentary `frontfelevationaliview ppartieularly,fillustrating the operation of the :selector .'mechanism off the 1 type .wheel printer; EligsfS is :anliend `View.` ofthe apparatus vtaken 'Onthe;lineseSiofFig. 11;

.fissati-Jefa partialfront view-.of lthe apparatus ,showinggpartieulanly Nthe docking plate -fror the `Qplfiering.code.fdr-ums.; y A,

. Figli #siam-,enlargeddetailedperspective view l echanismor.operatingthetype Wheel; kEig. 7 .-anenlargedfdtailviewsof .al'fkey slide Figs 8 :is airont elevational view of theembdiment v.of .theinvention .devoted .to thefcipherin'g .regenerativerepeaterg Figo!) is. afffragmentary .sectionalview thefinventionemay Fig. 10 is a section view approximately on line |-I0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. l1 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the ciphering code drums;

Fig, 12 is a detail view of the start bar;

Fig. 13 is a detail view of the stop bar;

Fig. 14 is a detail view of one of the code bars;

Figs. 15 and 16 are detail views of the mechanism for operating the direction switch; i

Fig. 17 is a detail view illustrating the operation of the armature of the selector magnet;

Fig 18 discloses a circuit arrangement for use with the Ciphering regenerative repeater; and

Fig. 19 is a detail view of part of the mechanism used for positioning the code bars.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the embodiment of the invention which is devoted to the type wheel printer will now be described. Referring to the parts by reference numerals, 3| represents the base of the apparatus upon which is supported in any suitable manner a housing 32 composed of front and rear walls 33 and 34, respectively, end walls 36 and 31, and a top portion 38. Within the housing 32 are mounted a front supporting member 39, an intermediate supporting member 4| secured to member 39 by means of bolts 25, and a rear supporting member 42 integrally formed as part of the front supporting member 39 in a slotted guide 43 (Fig. Similarly the rear supporting member 42 is provided with a slotted guide, not shown, and between it and the slotted -guidev43 are mounted for slidable vertical movement a series of key slides 44 normally urged to .an upward position by associated springs 46. All the key slides 44 may be cut from the same blank as shown in Fig. 7 by cutting off the undesired upward projections 41 according to the row of keyboard 48 in which it is desired to place the particular key slide. For example, if it were desired to make a particular key slide 44 operable from the front row of keyboard 48 the middle and rear upward projection 41 would be cut off at 49. The key slides 4'4 also include a centrally located and downwardly depending portion 5I, designed to move in a lower guideway 52 which is suitably attached to the intermediate supporting member 4|, while the middle upwardly extending projection 49 is designed to ride in the upper guideway 50 also mounted on member 4|. Keyboard 48 is provided with the usual space bar 53 pivoted on each side at 54 and normally urged in an upward direction by springs, not shown.

Mounted below the key slides 44 for horizontal slidable movement on. rods 56 and 51 are ve pairs of permutation bars 58F, 58B.. Each pair of permutation bars is composed of a front bar 58F and a rear bar 5BR, the front bars 58F being normally urged to the right as viewed in Fig. 2 .by means of springs 59F, while the rear bars 58B are similarly urged to the right by springs 59B.. The permutation bars 58F, 58B are respectively provided with upwardly extending beveled cam projections GIF and GIR designed to be engaged by the lower edges of key slides 44 and are so arranged that for any given pair of bars 58F and l58H, only one of the pair will move to the left when a key slide 4'4 is depressed. In other words, where there is a projection GIF on a bar 58F there will be no projection GIR at a similar point on bar 58R of the same pair and vice versa.

It will be understood that although the operation of only one mechanical chain will now be described there will be a similar chain for each element of the ve unit code. Each of the permutation bars 58B., 458F is provided near its left end (as viewed in Fig. 2) with a notch 62, in which the upper arms 63F, 63B. of a pair of operating levers 64F, 64R pivoted at 66 are nested. Operating lever 64F isdesigned to engage at its lower end a rearwardly extending lug. 61F of slide 68F while operating lever 64B is designed y"to engage at its lower end a frontwardly extending lug G1R of slide GBR. Pivotally mounted in socket 69 of slide BBF is a Ciphering lever 1|F which is urged in a counterclockwise or upward direction by means of its associated spring 12F.

Ciphering Vlever 1|R is similarly mounted on the slide 68B.

The position of the pairs of Ciphering levers 1IF, 1|R arev determined by the positions of associated pairs of sensing levers 13F, 13R which are pivoted at 14 and which by means of projections 16 sense the periphery of associated cam pairs 11F, 11R of code drums 60. Cam pairs 11F, 11R are so notched that the` high parts of cam 11F of one pair are directly opposite the low parts or notches of the other cam 11R of the'same pair. The Vperiphery of the cam pairs 11F, 11R may be cut in a fortuitous manner. The just described cutting of the cam pairs insures that Ciphering levers 1 IF, 1|R of any pair of Ciphering levers will alwaysfbe oppositely positioned. The free end of yCiphering lever 1|F or 1|R is designedto engage either'the rearwardly extending lug 'IRF of slide 19F or the frontwardly extending lug 18B. of slide 19B, depending upon the notching of the cam pairs 11F, 11R. Thus if Ciphering lever 1|F is down, as shown in Fig. 2, it will be in a position to engage a lug IBF of slide 19F. At this time ciphering lever'1lR will be up or in a position to engage a lug 18B. of slide 19B..

The second code drum 10 is composed of cam pairs 8IF,l SIR which by means of sensing levers 82F, 82R control the positions of ciphering levers 83F, 83B. `respectively mounted for pivotal movement on slides 19F, 19B.. Likewise, a third code drum composed of cam pairs Y84F, 84B by means 'of sensing levers SGF, BSR, control the 'positions of Ciphering levers 81F, 81R pivotally carried by their respective slides 88F, 88R. The free ends of ciphering levers 83F, 83R may engage either 4the rearwardly extending lug BSF of slide BBF 'or the frontwardly extending lug 89R of slide 'ESR'. ,Tljie free end of ciphering .levers 81F, 81R

may engage either the rearwardly' extending lug 9 IF of marking slide 92M or the frontwardly extending lug `SIR. of spacing slide 92S. Marking slide-92M is designed to engageV arm 93 ofl transferjiever 94 pivoted at es, while spacing slide azs .is designed to engage arm 91 of transfer lever 94. Transfer lever 294 includes a rounded third arm 98,)which is nested in notch 9-9 of an individual Yselector disc |0I of a five unit disc selector |02.

known in the art and is fully described in the "patent of vMorton et al. previously referred to `above. When the V-shaped slots |01 of selector been'pointed out,.and.therefore, a'stop pinV |06 willfbeselected prior to movement of stop arm |09. When the stop pin |06 is encountered by stop arm |09 further movement of slide` |I6 to the left is permitted due to the play between lug |52 and notch |53. The amount of additional movement of slide ||6 after a pin |66 is encountered is determined, of course, by which pin is selected. If the nearest pin to the stop arm |09 is selected there will be a maximum of further movement of slide ||6, whereas if the furtherest pin |06 is selected there will be a minimum of additional movement.

A description of the printing and tape feeding tape operations will now be undertaken. Suitably pivoted at |63 to a fixed part of the apparatus is a bell crank |64 having an upstanding arm |65, the upper end of which rests between pins |66 attached to the main operating slide H6. To the laterally extending arm |61 of bell crank |64 is pivoted at |68 a pawl |69. Also carried by arm |61 of bell crank |64 is a tape steppingpawl |1| which is pivoted at |12. Pawls |69 and |1| are urged in opposite directionsabout their `pivots by means of a connecting spring |13. PaWl |69 is provided for stepping ratchet |14 carried on the shaft |16. Attached to a suitably mounted rock shaft |11 is a bell crank |18 having an arm |19 which is urged into engagement with ratchet |14 by means of the spring I8 I Also fixed to rock shaft |11 for movement therewith is the print hammer lever |82 carrying at its free extremity the usual printing element |83. Thus, as the main operating slide H6 moves to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 pins |66 carried thereby will cause a clockwise pivotal movement of bell crank |64 which thereby operates pawl |69 to step the ratchet |14. At this time arm |19 of the bell crank |18 is cammed outwardly tensioning the spring |8I. As bell crank |64 reaches its extreme clockwise position, arm |19 now moves over a tooth of the ratchet |14 enabling spring |8| to move the print hammer lever |82 in a counterclockwise direction causing a sharp operation of the printing element |83. Immediately thereafter pawl |1| which has moved away from the tape feeding ratchet |19 engages the next tooth of ratchet |10 to thereby step the tape forward one position for the next operation. Ratchet |10 is secured to a shaft '|80 which at its other end carries the tape feed wheel |84.

For setting the code drums 60, 19, and 80 to prearranged positions each of the shafts I9, |29, and |39 are provided with dials |86. To prevent tampering with the code drums after they have been set, plate |81 (Fig. 5) is mounted for vertical movement on pins |68. This is accomplished by means of a standard cylinder lock |89 (Fig. 5) which, when operated by a key, moves shaft |9| and eccentric |92 Welded thereto in a counterclockwise direction. This lifts the plate |81 upwardly by means of slot |95 engaging pin |90 carried by plate |61, so that it becomes locked between the groove |93 of discs |94. Clearance, however, is provided so that discs |94 are free to rotate. Discs |94 are formed as integral parts of sleeves |96 which are rotatable on the shafts H8, |29, and |31 and carry respectively code drums 60, 10, and 80. Plate |81 includes bent over and rearwardly extending projections |91 which overlie the sensing levers 13, 82, and 86 and will disengage them from their respective code drums 11, 8|, and 84 when the plate |81 is moveddownward. This permits free access to andwithdrawal of Athe 'cpderdrums whenever necessary for adjustment or other purposes.

At the front of the housing 32 is mounted a compartment |98 (Figs. 3 and 4) which underlies the type wheel |58 and houses a vtape feed wheel |64 and may include a tape guiding means (not shown) for tape |99. Means, not shown, will also be provided for feeding inking ribbon |85 in any conventional manner.

A brief rsum of the operation of the type wheel printer will now be given. Key slide 44 is depressed which through the ve mechanical chains provided in the present invention results in the setting of the five individual selector discs I6| and the selection of a particular stop pin |06;

The key'slide 44 now engages universal bar thereby operating bell crank |2 and moving the main operating slide H6 to the right as viewed in Fig. 1. This operates gear segment |49 causing rotation of stoparm |09 until it is stopped by al selected stop pin |06. Main operating slide ||6 continues to move to the right, tensioning spring |8| of bell crank |13 and causing opera- .tion of print hammer lever |82 with a snapping action. As the main operating slide H6 returns to the left, pawl |1| operates tape feeding ratchet |10 to step tape |99 to its next position. At the same time pawl |69 assumes a position to en gage the next tooth of ratchetv |14.

Return movement of main operating slide ||6 to the left causes pawl I 2| to step ratchet ||9 to its next position, and when the notch' |24 of disc |23 is presented to lug |26 of pawl |21 this latter pawl will step ratchet |28 to its next position. Also when notch |32 of disc |3| is pre` sented to lug |33 of pawl |34 this pawl will step ratchet |31 to its next position. Thus a continually changing path may be provided through the ve mechanical chains to encipher or decipher each character of a message.

Space bar 53 is provided on either side with pins 35 which are each adapted to engage a key slide 44. Each of these latter key slides 44 will engage the same permutation bars 581i', 58R since the cam projection 6|1, 6 IR carried thereby will be the same at these two points. A special code such as the asterisk character may be used to indicate spacing between words.

With reference now to Figs. 8 to 16, inclusive. the second embodiment'of the invention which relates to a ciphering regenerative repeater will now be described. Numeral 226 represents the base of the apparatus which supports mainupright members 221, 228, and a front panel plate 229. On the baseA 226 is mounted a suitable motor (not shown) which drives main shaft 23| having fixed thereto a gear 232 which is in mesh with gear 233 attached to stepped shaft 234'. Mounted on shaft 234 is a selector cam sleeve 236 controlled by a friction clutch indicated generally as 231 and an operating sleeve 23B controlled by a ratchet clutch indicated generally as 239.

Suitably mounted to fixed parts of the apparatus is a selector magnet 24| and start magnet 242, either of which may release selector cam sleeve 236 by operation of clutch 231 depending on the direction of transmission of signals as will hereafter be explained. Armature 243 of selector magnet 24| is mounted on pivots 244 (only one of which is shown) and includes three arms, 246, 241, and 248. Arm 246 operable .by a cam to be later identified acts as an armature assist lever to assist thefarmature in its operation to movetoward the selector magnet 24| when marking or current impulses are received :thereby-.1n

arcanes.

ai-.manner well known intathei art; For# biasing; armature 243. in a clockwise. direction asviewedr. in Fig.y 9 a spring 249 iSiprOVidedattached to arm: 246. Arm 241 of armature 243 has connected thereto a. screw 25|. for operating. clutchf` start pin 252. Arm 248 carries-a screw- 253: adapted; to. engage code sensing lever 254 which hasi formed thereon a lug 256 to be engaged on either side by the. beveled edge 251v off' locking lever 258Y to. be later described in more detail. 1

Start magnet 242 operates. armature 25e/about: pivots 29| (Fig. 1.0) and includes two. armsl 262 and 253'. Arm 292 carries a screw-:294 adapted to engage clutch startpin 266. Arm 253i. operable by a cam to be laterv identifiedv4 actszasy anu armature assist lever to normally hol'dl the armature 259 against the pole piece of. start"m`agnet1 242i except when a space or starting impulse is received by this magnet'. For normallyL biasing;

armature 259 in a. counterclockwise directiony spring 261 is provided and is attached? to arm 283'.

As already mentioned" either selector magnet' 241| or start magnet 242"may' release'clut'ch '2311 depending on Whetherastart'f impulse is received by selector magnet 241| or startv magnet v2424 `by' operation of either start" pin 252 or 266.` This feature is fully disclosed in the aforementioned patent of L. M. Potts. Operation of" either' pin 252V or 266 (Fig. 10') causes' movement of'loell crankv 298n on pivot"y 2'6'9 and acounterclockwise' movement of' lever 21| about the pivot4 21-2. frees stop arm 213 carried by selector cam sleeve 236 and causes the consequentrelease' of the sleeve; as the stop arm is now free to brush past thepivoted gate latch 214. Supported. upon theselector cam sleeve 236, reading from left: to right as shown in Fig. 10 and in detail` in Figs. 1'2: to 15, inclusive, is armatureI assist carrilY 213 which is engageable by arm 246 of armature '24S-lockii'ng lever cam 215, No; 5-code element cam 21T-5; start cam 218, No. 4-code-e1ement cam 21T-4, amature assist cam 219 engageable by' arm- 26.3.r` of armature 259, No. 3 code e1`ementcam121'1'3, stop cam 28|, No. 2` code element cam 21T-2,y No. 1 code element cam 2-11-|, direction switch. cam 282 and clutch release cam 283 which. releases. operating sleeve 238 aslate'r' explained; Carried byy operating sleeve 238iis a sensing cam 284 and ai stepping cam 286.

Mounted about the-pivot rod` 281" (Figg 9) are push levers 288 operable bythecorrespondingilve code element cams 211| to 2.11-5, startV cam 218; stop cam 29| and direction. switch cam 282. Beneath the push levers 4288 arel arranged' ve slide code bars 23S-l to 289--5, inclusive', a start bar 29|, stop bar 292 and a directionl switch bar. 293, all of which vare urged in a. leftward and upward direction about rod 295 by' springs 294 as shown clearly in Figs. 12 to115, inclusive'. It it understood that the. bars just described. willY be in aligned position with .respect to thecor-respending cams which havebeen previously described.

Code setting lever 254` (Fia 17) whichfis pivot ed about pivot 295 and. operable by screw...253 carried by arm 243. of armature 241.includes-a U`shaped bail 291, the cross piece. of which underlies the code barsv 2.8.9.-I to. 28-9---5r start. bar 29|, stop bar 292, and direction switch bar. 293. Bail 291 is adapted to cooperatewith the. notches 2,98 of code bars 289| to..2895l to determine the direction in which. the. codel bars. will. tilt when. operated by their associated earnsr 2.1,1-I. te2-11-5 and pushlevers 288 asivvillt belatericx-f.

the

t0.' plained. klPjivoted ati-,31| .isf a rockgflever; 3| thaw.- ing. arms. '3,13 and.. 3|4 which also. underlie; the:A code bars-299| to. 289-5; start bar 29|,Ls'tops bar. 292 and. direction switcnbariv 2.9.3; Arm. 3141 i of'.` lever 3I.2.supports1a regenerative.repeatercorI-e.

tact Sl'andi thus according. to the. directionf.-in;l

which codebars 28B-Pl: to 289--5 will. pivot, leven position;

andi. urgedf upwardly-I by spring i 3| 9' is provided This-(lever has two notches92`|v which cooperate: with the knife edge of depending armf322roi1leven oir-in a;..clo'ckwise direction.-with bailu29-1 acting asa-'fulcrum when the i bail'` 291' is in a position with. it's lower-1cross:` piece'. 'offset with 'respect tol I I'otchesl 29811 of' thelcode` bar as.. will be'l'aterede-I scribed" in more/detail. y l

Startrbar 291i (Fig. 12)' has formed near-fits.r le'ftend aniextrarwide'notch. B20/so that regard"-r lesssoif the-positionfof" the bail 291" cam 218 wiilf operate-itsassociated? push lever 288L and univerjsallyrmove. cross bar 29| in .counterclockwise direction abou-trod' 2953 resultingin a like-move'-H me'ntlof lever? 3|2'andf` operation of the regenerative repeaterfcontact 3|6 to its spacing position; Conversely, stop bariy 29.2 has no notch formed thereonso that-its cam 28| and its associated push-lever' 28B.will universally cause stop bar' 29-21 to' pivot'firr a clockwise direction on bail 29-`|fto`y accordingly move regenerative repeater Contact 3|l6 tfoiitsmarkingpositicna When cam sleeve 236` is-y released by" opera-tion' of eitherstart pingl 2552*-or` 266, start bar 29| will function at the' commencement or each signal code combination to move-tha regenerative repeater' contact; 3| 6i to; its-customary spacing or start position. Atetlfieend of each signal code combination Stopn bar 2 92 will-function to move the regenerativeV repeater contact 3|f65 to its customary-marking orv` stop; position; 4

When a vspacing'signal is received lov-.selector magnet 241i) bail 29T-will pivot. clockwise and' Inovefrom beneath notch 323 of direction bai-'.293 (Figgl) causing the bar 29.31. tomove ina clock'- wise. direction on bail.v 29;.1'. as push lever.' 28.81.15. operated'by cam 282. This results. in the, operation of bell. crank 324 on pivot-38.2 in, acounter.-H clockwise' direction.. enabling the, bell crank, 32.4. to, push, against. flange. 32'!V of. direction slidefbar;

3.281. movesfdirection slide 328. (Fig. 16110.

the. left-causing its projection 329 to. allow direc-l tion switch 33|.. to. assume its. leftvvardV position!l When azspacing signa-l is received biz-start magnet.y 242, bail1-2911 will. remainC beneathwthe.; notch 323 allowngf-directionf-bar 293.130 move in a coun.;-y

terclockwise-direction andca-nsing bell crank 1332-. which is pivotedv at 382--to engagev flange 3334!.@15

direction slide: 922-v and thereby enabling its pro-f jection'. 32.9 to. move; direction switchg-33t-tq1 he. right.- '.'llhecircuitwith which direction switch. 93| is.` associated `will be'later described.' -lorI renV taninga directionfslide.'3.28 in either of'- its posi-fk 338 formed on direction slide.

drums are mounted on a sleeve 341 which is attached to a flange 346 of rotatable shaft 349 by means of screws 35| and 352. The screw 35| which extends through a raised annular portion 356 of sleeve 341 is provided as a means of adjusting the angular position of the cam pairs 344, 346. Each set of code drums is provided with a dial 353 attached for movement with sleeve 341 by means of a set screw 345. By manipulation of dials 353 the code drums may be set to any desired position. By loosening screws 345 and 352 the code drums may be lifted up and withdrawn forwardly as a unit in order to make necessary adjustments.

Forengaging each pair of ciperhing cams 344 and 346 there is Iprovided a two part lever 354 (Fig. 9) made up of two links 356, 351 rigidly fastened tcgether and pivoted at 355. Cam pairs 344 and 349 are so notched that when projection 358 of link 356 is engaging a high part of cam 344 projection 359 of link 351 is engaging a low part of cam 343. Conversely when projection 358 of link 356 is engaging a low part of cam 344 projection 359 of link 351 is engaging a high part of cam 346. Pivoted at 36| to each link 356 associated with the drum 343 is a single ciphering lever 362. Pivoted at 436| to each link 356 associated with the code drum 342 is a pair of cipherin-g levers 363F, 3631?.. Levers 363F constitute the front levers and levers 363B constitute the rear levers of any given pair of levers as viewed in Fig. 9. Similarly at 36! to each link 356 associated with the drum 34| is pivoted a, pair of ciphering levers 364F, 364B..

Interposed between each ciphering lever 362 and each pair of ciphering levers 363F, 363i?I is a pair p of slides 366F, 366B., which are slidably mounted on pins 361. Interposed between each pair of ciphering levers 36311', 363B., and 364F, 364B. is a pair of slides 368B', 368B. slidably mounted gn pins 369.

The mechanism for operating the mechanical ciphering chains involved in the present invention will now be described. Pivotally secured to rod 31| is a sensing lever 312 having an arm 313 which acts as a follower for the sensing cam 284 -previously described as being carried by operating sleeve 238. Also pivoted on rod 31| is a chain operating bail 314 which supports a cross rod 316. Sensing lever` 312 and bail 314 are connected by means of a relatively strong spring 311. is further under the influence of a weaker spring `318 which normally urges the bail in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 9. The purpose of the connecting spring 311 between sensing levers 312 and bail 314 is to provide yield in the parts if there is any tendency to jam.

Cross rod 316 of bail 314 extends between the projections 319 of a series of ve slides 38|, one for each element of the code, which are mounted on the pins 362. When the follower arm 313 of sensing lever 312 drops from the high part 383 of sensing cam 284, bail 314 may pivot in a counterclockwise direction under influence of spring 318 causing slides 38| to be Ipushed to the right and enabling the bent over flanges 384 formed thereon to push each mechanical ciphering chain to the right. The single ciphering lever 362, if in the up position as shown in Fig. 9, would push against rearwardly extending lug 386 of front slide 366F by means of its own projection 380. If ciphering lever 362 is down it will push a-gainst frontwardly extending lug 381 of rear slide 366R by means of its projection 385. Thus, either the front or rear slide of each pair of slides 366F,` 366B Amay be operated. If front slide 366F is operated it Will push `againstciphering lever 363F- regardless of its position. Likewise, if the rear slide 366B. is operated it will push against ciphering lever 363B..

When ciphering lever 363F is up as shown vin Fig. 9 and it is moved to the right by slide 366F it will engage by means of projection 388 the frontwardly extending projection 389 of front slide 368F. When ciphering lever 363F is down it may push against lug 389 of slide 36813J by means of-its projection 39|. Similarly the single projection 392 of ciphering lever 363B may engage either rearwardly extending lug 39E) of front slide 368F or lug 389 of rear slide 36811,.

If front slide 363i?1 is moved to the right it will enga-ge ciphering lever 364F regardless of its position and accordingly move lever 364F to the right. If ciphering lever 364F is up as shown in Fig. 9 its projections 393, 394-will miss bent over` flange 396 of code bar operating lever 391, pivoted about rod 398. Each lever 391 terminates in a rounded portion 492 at its free end which is nested in notches 403 formed near the right endl of the code bars 289-! to 289-5. When ciphering lever 3641 is down its projection 394 4will engage flange 396 of lever 391. and will thereby cause-a particular code bar 289-I to 289-5 to be moved to the right, whereas previously the code bar was permitted to remain in its leftward position.

When rear slide 36811l is moved to the right it will engage the rear ciphering lever 364153 which according to its -position may either engage, `by means of its single projection 404, flange 396 of lever 391 and -move a corresponding code bar 28g-l, 289-5 to the right when ciphering lever 364B. is in its up position or on the otherv hand when rear ciphering lever 364B is down its projection 494 will miss ange 396 of lever 391 and enable the particular code bars 28B-I to '289-5 toremain in a leftward position. Therefore, when slides 38| are moved to the right a variable path of movement through the five mechanical chains will be provided and code bars 289-I lto 289-5 will be positioned accordingly for each signal code combination. rAs slides 38| move to the right they push ciphering levers 362 and selected ones of the ciphering lever pairs 363F, 363R and 364F, 364R also to the right. On return movement of slides 38| to theleft lugs 436 formed on the lower part of slides 38| function to return the ciphering levers to theiroriginal position. The ciphering levers are -normally retained against adjustable eccentric stops 431.

'Ihe stepping of the code drums to provide this variable path will now be explained. For stepping code drums 34|, 342, and 343 to their various positions there is provided a long lever 486 (Fig. 10) which is pivoted-about the rod 295. Lever 466 includes a follower arm 401 which engages the stepping cam 286 carried by sleeve 238 as described earlier in the specification. Pivotally connected at 468 (Fig. 9) to lever 496 is a slide lever 409 which atits left end is mounted upon pin 4| I. A spring 4| 2 normally urges lever 486 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 9 about therod 295. Pivoted at 4|3 is a stepping pawl 4|4 adapted to engage the ratchet 4|6 attached to shaft 349 to step code drum 34| each time slide 499,. is reciprocated. Pawl 4|4 is normally urged into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 4 I6 by means of a spring 4|1. Also pivoted at 4I3 on slide 409 is a longer pawl 4I8 adapted to engage ratchet 4|9 which steps the code drum 342. This occurs when a projection 42| formed on pawl 4|8 engages the notch 423, of disc 424-xed 'for rotation withratchet 4|6."

Pivotd atIt 42"@ s'lidl 5"? aridi?t normally in a counterclockwise direction lo'yf'sprin 4 pawlf 428' adaptedi to-*ehgage teeth ratchetf'azs Which'1-rotatesifth code drumVA 43?- Frmeclon the patvllllz isf-a* tinvd' Y* signed izo-entera--notch 43! vo is rotatable With thefratciiet ever projections 412+"- ispresentcl to tienoteh of dist: 42155 code drumL-SffZf'lwill Eet-stepped!" o" position, andf likewise* when'- projection-13m isf presented"l t'l thetinotlclfi 21311; ofdsf@ Zlode'dii 3133- Will loe4 stepped One-position: "This-arr'lngeiw ment is: similar to" a;j mimieating2 stampfsystent andI providsta large; niiinler* of'cinlierizig sc'leci' tionswithoutrepetitionz For niaintai h'gf'ratchfetslfl; 419i andfssih positionjt may'hef provid'd withl a jockey springflf oiiltf'o'ne f-* W-iii'cli is shown; in the draWingsiiFi' K Fixed to a s-h'a'f-t- MSC'Sital'v joiirnalet Eel tweenffont parrermemherfz' molestie: port 22'?L is a dialfll-Sgfhavin fo'r due'r tions of i adjustmentf Shaftv4 @ditMv Wt having; a high part-adapte" war-div' extending pi''oieetion'"v 44 off" one 'of Aith slides38 I'. Shaft"klaalsocarriesa crrill h ing a: projection Miiforthe No: ripo'sitio of-o 11 639' and'f a'v proj ectioi 4% Gffr-tiie Noi-fi positi'nto' dial' 439; The*highpart'-0f c`a`rri""4lI f. t' ireith'er theNb; 1 orN'. 2'Vpostii1f'dialj43 holdone of theslides 38-`1-` t^the left." lillovement'v off' one ofzthe slidesSito'thelftmoves alliofthe"` slides to theleft hecauseofffthei"commoire -fsagement' with cross roelin 4316i'onta-i1.sl'mfY j parte Maand its orcam'ta-areeeeetiv topsh against' projection EN of steppihg'lver 40B" o pivot" it in a clockwise"directiont orifrod't l295i" afnd' renderr it ineiectite for accomplishing the j y terwping of code drumse'lg' 312i and"`34"3i There@ fore',- i'n the No'. 1 positionofd'ial assl'iwif Fig. 9 all code bars 289--Vto';289 Evilreinain* stationary irrteir leftw'a'rdpos'ton andfthe apparatus may"fi1n'ction" as "a" regular'f're'gerferatitef' repeater'without encipheriiigoi dcipherihgsg'l" nals. Also`in'this'po'sitionno`steppiig`lofthco e* drums will' occur; Ih tlfiefNor'2'*positth'ofidial1t 439L code bars- 289-I" tCVZXlS--Bl it'fillre''riaiiri` stiafl tfonarybut steppingloftlie'codedfns Willliocbii" as this may he ydesiraldle' undsorne conditions from an operatingstudpoiht.- inthe-N. 39pm sition or dier' 43's" which is the-norma positiorff of2 operation, stepping l'ever" 4116. and"l codeloa's" :se-s to 28as will te freedfforoperatmn: the No'. 4 position' of diaf'lBQ co'deliars 28951-1 to 289-- will' be'- permittedito" operate '-liut" step`z ping lever 40swili'be disabistproviahgra edi key ciphering arrangement: Forrolding'di 9j in each of itsl four positins'shaft"6313"" "provided" with a ratchet t'tengagabl tif'a"'spr1hgdeteht 448.

With" reference nowtd'lig. 18 circuit den signed'` for" use with" the 'ciinlering regenerative" repeater will now be' des'criloediy 'Niuner'al 45! represents a combinem telegraph-transmitting and receiving apparatus locatedr at a local station 4Which by means of'pliigc'onnecti nsf4t2` and 453 may be associated with* a1oo1-li`ne-4tif extending' tolasiniilarapparatis' ata distant stationhaving an identical. eiphering regenera= tive repeater and circuit arrangement. Assimil'an' circuitsis shown in the patent of'llll M. lottstat ready mentionedabove. -v

Switch-33 Whose operation hasheen previous-- 1y described is shown in its leftward or transmitu ting position. Under this condition the following circuit may be traced: From positive lead 456 whilere'genera'tive:repeater co'rftet 31 sov- 'iconductor 467:', through regenerative repeittk'*j eohtaet site; over" eorduotor== stal '-throughf 1h order that theinventiohfmayhe' bett d'erstocxi'I a'o'ycie of" operation" WiIlhUWB d scribed. First it `will be assumed that di Uiionreceiptoff'tliestarttirhpulsejbyeit n SeIeotorfztIforrstart magnet zzcrtchr'si bel operated and sleeve 236,.re1eased for?` tion. If the start impulseistreceivedbyselector duringythe stop impulse which" is al-Waysa'virus-'riefv ing or current impulse. YArmature. assistfarm-f against the pole piece ofkstart magnet 242 except when it should be receiving a spacing or start impulse. AIter receipt of each impulse og the'iive unit code combination, locking lever 258 which is pivoted at 255 and urged in a counterclockwise direction by spring 268 functions by means of its knife edge 251 to engage lug 258 of sensing lever 254 which carries the bail 291. This temporarily holds sensing lever 254 and bail 291 which is an integral part thereof in either its marking or spacing positionA depending upon the impulse received by selector magnet 24|. Code bars 289-1 to 289-5 will be operated sequentially by the push levers 288 which are acted u-ponby their respective cams 211-I to 211-5.

When bail 281 (Fig. 14) underlies notch 298 of a particular code bar 289-I to 289-5, regenerative repeater contact 3|6 will be moved to its spacing position. When the position of bail 291 is offset with respect to the position of notches 298 of code bars 289-I to 289-5, regenerative repeater contact 3|6 will be moved to its marking position. At the end of each signal code combination stop bar 292 (Fig. 13) is operated by cam 28| and its push lever 288 to move regenerative repeater contact 3|6 to its spacing position.

`Approximately during the latter part of the receipt of the No. 5 impulse by selector magnet 24| clutch release cam 283 moves arm 285 (Fig. 9) of clutch release lever 288 about pivot 265 against the tension of spring 215. This enables release of the clutch 239 and consequent rotation of operating sleeve 238. Shortly after release of sleeve 238 lever 312 (Fig. 19) rides on the high part 383 of cam 284 and since spring 311 is stronger than spring 318 bail 314 is .pivoted in a clockwise direction. This, returns slides 38| to the left insuring that ciphering lever 362, slides 366F, 366B, ciphering levers 3635', 363B., slides 3681i', 368B and ciphering levers 364F, 3641?, are moved to the left. As lever 312 drops from the high part 383 of cam 284, spring 318 will move slides 38| to the right, positioning code levers 289-| to 289-5 in their new ciphering positions. Prior to this movement of slides 38| to the right stepping lever466 operable by cam 286 of sleeve 238 steps code drums 34|, 342, and 343 to the next position to afford new ciphering-paths through the mechanical chains.

. Dials 353 are provided with apertures 48| through which may be viewed alphabetical vdesignations printed on the front panel plate 229 for setting the code drums to prearranged positions.

It is understood that various changes and modications may be made in the present invention Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanical ciphering selector comprising aplurality of selectable elements, means selected by said selectable elements for controlling selective operations, a mechanical chain for each of said selectable elements including a series of pairs of movable members, means for selectively conditioning said movable members by variably selecting the positions of each member of said pairs of said members to afford a variable path of movement through said chains, a -plurality of pairs of selector bars, and a plurality of pairs of operating levers effective when actuated by said selector bars to operate said selectable elements according to the path of movement aiforded by the-selective conditioning ofgsaid'me-V chanical chains. A

2. A mechanical ciphering selector comprising a plurality ofselectable elements, means selected by said selectable elements for controlling selective operations, a mechanical chain for each of said elements, each chain including a series of pairs of variably positionable members, means including a plurality of. variably settable code drums for selectively conditioning said members by variably selecting the positions of each member of said pairs of members to afford a variable path of movement through said chains, a plurality of pairs of selector bars, and a, plurality of pairs of operating levers effective when actuated by said selectorbars to operate said selectable elements according to the path of movement afforded by the selective conditiom'ng of said mechanical chains.

3. A mechanical ciphering selector comprising a plurality of selectable elements, means selected by said selectable elements for controlling selective operations, a mechanical chain for each of said elements, each chain including a series of pairs of movable members, each mem,- ber having pivotally articulated thereto a ciphering lever, a sensing lever associated with each ciphering lever, a plurality of variably set-` table code drums eiiective through said sensing levers and said ciphering levers to selectively condition said movable members by variably selecting the positions of each member of said pairs of movable members to aiiord a variable path of movement through` said chains, a plu-` rality of pairs of selector bars, and a plurality of pairs of operating levers effective when actuated by said selector bars to operate said se` of said selectable elements including a series of` pairs of movable members, each member having associated therewith ciphering instrumentalities, a plurality of variably settable code drums effective through said ciphering instrumentalities to selectively condition said movable members by variably selecting the positions of each member.

of said pairs of movable members to aiord a variable path of movement through said chains, a plurality of pairs of selector bars, and a plu.- rality of pairs of operating levers effective when actuated by said selector bars `to operate saidf selectable elements according to the path ofmovement afforded by the selective conditioning of said mechanical chains.

MARTHA W. C. POTTS,

Emecutrz'a: Under the Last Will and Testament o! Louis M. Potts, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record `in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS) Number Name Date 1,527,768 Anning Feb. 24, 1925 1,621,290 Tanner Mar. 15', 1927 2,394,765 Hagelin Feb.' l2, 1946 2,403,679

Potts July 9, 194eV 

